African Football League 2023/24 season first edition.

The African Football League, a brand new elite club tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), is set to kick off today on October 20, 2023, and will run until November 11, 2023. This inaugural season is designed as a precursor to the main event and will feature only eight teams representing various regional areas in Africa, selected based on their performance. It serves as a warm-up for the upcoming full season scheduled for the 2024/25 season, which will include a more extensive participation of 24 teams. This exciting new league promises to bring top-tier African football to the forefront and showcase the talent and competition within the continent.

Background of African Football League

The African Football League (AFL) has an interesting background. Originally conceived in 2022, it was initially introduced as the “Africa Super League.” However, due to certain delays, the competition’s launch was postponed by approximately a year. During this time, the organizers decided to rename it the “African Football League.”

The AFL is designed to be a major football competition that involves a total of 24 teams. These teams are divided into three geographical regions within Africa, reflecting the continent’s diversity. One significant feature of the league is the implementation of a promotion and relegation system, which adds an element of excitement and competitiveness to the tournament. This system allows teams to move up or down in divisions based on their performance, offering both challenges and opportunities for clubs participating in the league.

Fixtures

The schedule for this tournament is set to begin with the knockout stage, which consists of the quarter-finals. The first leg matches are scheduled to take place between October 20th and October 22nd. The second leg matches are then planned for October 24th and 25th.

Following the quarter-finals, the tournament will move on to the semi-finals. These semi-final matches are scheduled for October 29th and November 1st, with both legs of the semi-finals taking place on these dates.

The grand finale, the final, will also be a two-legged affair, with matches played home and away. These final matches are set to occur between November 5th and November 11th, determining the ultimate champion of the African Football League. This schedule promises an exciting and competitive journey through the tournament, with fans eagerly awaiting the outcomes of these pivotal matches.

Simba vs Al Ahly

The opening game of the tournament will feature the Tanzanian club Simba, who will go up against the formidable Al Ahly, a club that has clinched the CAF Champions League title a remarkable 11 times. This exciting encounter is set to take place at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. The first leg of this clash is scheduled for the tournament’s kickoff.

Subsequently, the second leg of this contest will be played in Egypt on October 24th, providing a thrilling continuation to this highly anticipated matchup between Simba and Al Ahly. Football fans are sure to be in for an exciting showdown between these two prestigious teams.

TP Mazembe vs Esperence

Tunisian side Esperence who have four continental crowns will face DR Congo side TP Mazembe who last won a title in 2015. The match will be played on 21 October at TP Mazembe home ground.

Petro Atletico vs Mamelodi Sundowns

Even though the Angolan side Petro Atletico are facing a ban for match fixing and made an appeal they will face one time CAF champions league winners from South Africa on 21 October in Angola.

Enyimba vs Wydad Casablanca

Two time African champion Enyimba from Nigeria will face three times CAF champions league winners Wydad from Morocco. Although the Nigeria’s side have not contested the CAF champions league semifinals since 2011 they can count themselves luck to be among the top eight.

The matches will be televised and be stream lived on FIFA plus and AFL.com